A successful season for the Rhinos following the Challenge Cup success

Leeds Rhinos defeat Rhinos defeat Salford to win the Challenge Cup. (Photo Credit Serious about rugby league)

Leeds started the season in great form with three wins from four but saw their Super League form drop after their Challenge cup victory over Salford.

The Rhinos had an awful first game of the season falling to a heavy defeat at home to Hull FC. They quickly put the loss behind them winning their next three games before lockdown, the stand out being their 36-0 home win against the Warrington Wolves.

The Rhinos continued their good form after the break with a one point victory over rivals Huddersfield Giants. Leeds saw themselves 20 point behind in the final 18 minutes before four quickfire tries from Luke Gayle, Luke Briscoe, Alex Mellor and Konrad Hurrell sent the game to golden point. Luke Gayle’s stepped up in golden point with a drop goal grabbing the victory for his side. They were brought back down to earth in their next game at the hands of a red-hot St Helens side falling to a 48-0 defeat.

Leeds struggled for form in the League after this defeat, turning their attention to the Challenge Cup. After pulling apart a week Hull KR side in the Quarter Final they met an inform Wigan Warriors side in the Semi Final. Their Semi Final performance will go down as their best of the season. A display in which they dominated Wigan in both defence and attack to take their place in the 2020 Coral Challenge Cup Final, where they would face the Salford Red Devils.

A game which would go down to the wire! Leeds raced to an early lead before a full length try from Salford levelled the score. The score was level at 16-16 with eight minutes remaining. Somebody had to be the hero and up stepped Leeds number seven Luke Gayle who kicked a drop goal in the closing minutes to give the Rhinos the victory and become the 2020 Coral Challenge Cup champions.

A man who was destined to leave the club in the off season, Ritchie Myler had made the full back position his own with man of the match performances. None bigger than his performance in the cup final, resulting with Myler awarded the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.

Their Super League season came to an abrupt end, after finishing fifth they came up against an inconsistent Catalans side. Unfortunately for Leeds they caught the French side on a good day and were well beaten. An improvement from the previous season but still not good enough in the league for a side with such quality.

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